You’ve lost your car keys. But it hardly matters since you can’t remember where you parked the car. Some memory loss is normal. But how do you know when something more serious is going on? Read on to learn how to protect your brain health...

We all want to have instant recall.

The sad truth?

Once we pass our mid-20s, memory slowly declines.

By our 50s, we start to misplace things, forget appointments, and never mind trying to learn new names. Lists are essential, and we just get better at faking it at meetings.

But what leads to memory loss and what can we do to safeguard our brains?

Read on for 6 common risk factors.

Health conditions.Strokes, infections, brain tumors and hormonal disorders like overactive or underactive thyroid can bring on dementia. HIV, tuberculosis, syphilis (in its later stages), herpes and bacterial meningitis can also have a profound effect on thinking and memory.

Vitamin deficiency.Run short on certain vitamins, such as B1 (thamine), B12 and folate, and recall declines too.

Head injury.Blows to the brain, even mild concussions, have an impact. As boxer Mohammed Ali sadly learned, repeated whacks to the head trigger dementia and lead to Parkinson’s disease.

Alcoholism.Alcoholics eventually deplete thiamine, a B vitamin.

Stress and depression.Prolonged stress, often accompanied by interrupted sleep and a preoccupation with problems, can affect memory. Depression can disrupt focus and responsiveness.

These steps help keep your brain sharp:

Lower your cholesterol and blood pressure.Both may lead to narrowing of the arteries, lessening blood flow. Less blood to the brain means your memory will suffer. Raising your HDL, or good cholesterol, may help stave off the problem.

In a 2008 British study of 3,700 people, those with low levels of HDL had a 53% greater risk of memory loss than those with the highest levels.

Exercise body and brain.Exercise is great for the brain, increasing blood flow and oxygen and stimulating the growth of new neurons to keep you smart. Exercising your mind is key too: Stimulating puzzles, games and reading help you stay sharp.

Skip the chips.A healthful diet including lots of green leafy vegetables and fish is a boon to your memory.

According to an Italian study, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish, as well as flaxseed, walnuts and soybeans, improve concentration. And green leafy vegetables contain lots of vitamin B (which prevents strokes that can lead to dementia).

Quit smoking. When British researchers tested middle-aged smokers and nonsmokers, they found that smokers had the worst scores on tests measuring memory and other brainy tasks.

Raise a glass.One alcoholic drink a day appears to be healthy for the brain and heart. In fact, one study indicated that people with dementia who had a drink daily had a slower decline than those who drank nothing.

But drinking more than 14 drinks a week may raise the risk.

Party on.Have fun with your friends, sign up for new activities, gab on the phone and head to gatherings you enjoy.

A University of Michigan study found that just talking to someone for 10 minutes improved memory and intellect on tests shortly afterward.

Unwind.People with higher levels of stress hormones have poorer memory than those with normal levels.

So when you feel a stressful moment coming on, try this instant relaxation exercise: Shut your eyes, breathe in deeply through your nose and blow out through your mouth. Repeat at least five times, and you’ll be sure to find your car – and your keys – later.

But how can you tell if it’s a minor memory problem or a serious condition?

Dementia – often called senility – slowly progresses with old age, first eroding memory, attention, language and problem solving.

More than 5 million Americans live with dementia, and two-thirds of them have Alzheimer’s disease, which is a branch of dementia.

Alzheimer’s is more common in women (more than half the cases) than men.

Although most dementias strike later in life, Alzheimer’s can hit in the 40s as a slow, steady loss of brain cells.

As the disease progresses, patients lose control of their bladders and bowels, and develop severe mood swings. They live about 4-6 years after diagnosis.

How Much Do You Know About Alzheimer’s Disease?More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number could climb to 16 million by 2050. Women face a higher risk of developing it than men, and are also more likely to become caregivers. Take this quiz to see how much you know about Alzheimer’s.

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